The KC Royals dropped their second straight game, both to the Texas Rangers (the team they share the Surprise complex with). This afternoon, the Royals were battered 10-0.

On a positive note, no one got hurt (though Christian Colon was hit by a pitch in the upper back area). However, a few long shots made making the team a whole lot harder.

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas on St. Patty’s Day 2014 (Jen Nevius).

The Royals offense continues to sputter, as they collected just six hits (two more than yesterday). While yesterday, the bench collected three of the four hits, today it was the starters getting those hits (five of the six). The lone bench player with a hit was catcher Zane Evans.

For the second straight day, Mike Moustakas ripped a double in the first inning. For the second straight day, he was left stranded. For the second straight day, Brett Eibner walked to load the bases in the first, but the Royals once again did not score (Eibner went 0-for-2).

Starter Edinson Volquez, who usually does not pitch well in spring training, allowed a run in the first on a double by Mitch Moreland. It was sun-aided, as Eibner lost the ball in left field. Eibner made up for that in the 2nd inning with a nice running grab in the left-center field gap.

Volquez went back out for the second, but his pitch count did not allow him to finish. In came Christian Binford, who got a line out to right field for the inning’s final out. Things did not go so smoothly for Binford in the third, as he allowed three runs on three hits. The inning did start out with an Eric Hosmer fielding error at first base and Binford did end up striking out two (including Moreland).

However, that is the second time this week that Binford was lit up (the first came in Monday’s intrasquad game).

Miguel Almonte followed with two scoreless innings, though he did allow two hits and a walk. Almonte struck out three (including Joey Gallo with the bases loaded in the fourth).

Brian Flynn was next and he wasn’t as crisp as he was in Monday’s intrasquad game. He allowed three straight two out hits (though two were of the infield variety), but did not allow a run thanks to the strong arm of Bubba Starling in right field (Starling went 0-for-2 with a strikeout).

Lefty Sam Selman pitched a scoreless seventh, inducing two ground outs. Aroni Nina allowed four base runners and two runs in the eighth, both coming on a home run. He walked one (which scored) and hit another, but got a double play ball to erase the runner.

Brooks Pounders pitched the ninth and things didn’t go so well for him either. After a fly out in foul territory, he allowed a solo home run. A walk, followed by a single, double, another single, and a sac fly put four more Rangers runs on the board.

*Jeremy Guthrie was supposed to pitch against his former teammates, but a lower back strain forced him out.

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About Jen Nevius

I first became a KC Royals fan way back in 1995 when I attended my first Wilmington Blue Rocks game. I fell in love with minor league baseball then and began following the Royals as former Blue Rocks clawed their way to the big leagues.
3+ years ago I started covering the Royals for Aerys Sports, but since the site has been shut down, I am going out on my own.